Introduction

In the age of Zero Trust security, where “never trust, always verify” is the core principle, Privileged Access Management (PAM) has emerged as a cornerstone of modern enterprise cybersecurity. As identity-based attacks rise, managing privileged credentials, admin accounts, service accounts, and non-human identities is no longer optional.

The best PAM solutions in 2025 align seamlessly with Zero Trust architectures, enforcing just-in-time access, least privilege policies, and detailed session monitoring. This blog explores the Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions built for Zero Trust, focusing on pricing, licensing models, feature depth, integrations, and real-world reviews.

What is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?

In Zero Trust models, Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions focus on securing and managing access to sensitive systems and data by implementing strong authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms. This approach ensures that only authenticated and authorized users can access infrastructure resources, minimizing the risk of data breaches and compliance issues.  

What is PAM's privileged access management?

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a cybersecurity practice that secures and controls access to sensitive systems and data within an organization. It focuses on managing and monitoring privileged accounts, such as those of administrators, to reduce the risk of unauthorized access and misuse. PAM helps organizations ensure that only authorized personnel have the necessary level of access to critical resources, minimizing the potential for security breaches.

What is the purpose of the Pam tool?

Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools are software solutions designed to manage and secure privileged accounts and access within an organization. PAM tools help organizations mitigate security risks associated with unauthorized access and misuse of privileged accounts.

What is PAM used for?

PAM is used to secure, manage, and monitor privileged accounts with elevated access rights to sensitive systems and data. It protects against unauthorized access and misuse.

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Top 10 PAM Solutions in Zero Trust Models (2025)

1. One Identity Safeguard

Overview: One Identity is a recognized leader in Identity and Access Management (IAM), delivering a unified suite of solutions through the One Identity Fabric — a connected approach that integrates identity governance, access management, privileged access, and Active Directory management across your entire environment.

One Identity Safeguard is a comprehensive Privileged Access Management (PAM) suite designed to secure, control, and audit privileged access to critical systems. Part of the broader One Identity Fabric, it integrates seamlessly with other modules to deliver end-to-end identity security.

Safeguard’s standout capabilities include secure credential vaulting, session monitoring, threat detection, and machine learning–driven user behavior analytics. It supports centralized authentication, just-in-time and least-privileged access, and provides tamper-proof session recordings for compliance and audits.

One Identity is also enhancing the user experience with AI-driven, in-product documentation that replaces dense manuals, reducing friction and providing contextual, actionable guidance directly within the interface.

‍Safeguard Pricing: Available upon request.

Safeguard Licensing Options: Per appliance or user

Best For: Large enterprises needing advanced privileged access control across hybrid environments.

Pros: Real-time analytics, easy AD integration

Cons: Steeper learning curve

Alternative: One Identity PAM Essentials — a streamlined, SaaS-based option for SMBs.

Gartner Rating: 4.2/5 - 124 Reviews

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2. CyberArk Privileged Access Manager

Overview: A market leader in PAM, CyberArk delivers robust credential vaulting, session recording, just-in-time access, and hybrid cloud support.

CyberArk Pricing: Enterprise, based on users & modules

CyberArk Licensing Options: Per user, per vault, or SaaS subscription

Best For: Global enterprises with compliance requirements

Pros: Zero Trust-aligned, broad integrations, strong audit controls

Cons: Premium pricing, complex setup

G2 Rating: 4.6/5 - 64 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.7/5 - 1079 Reviews

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3. BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access

Overview: Combines secure remote access with PAM, offering credential injection, session management, and endpoint protection.

BeyondTrust Pricing: Quote-based (SaaS or on-prem)

BeyondTrust Licensing Options: Per concurrent user or endpoint

Best For: Organizations needing secure third-party access

Pros: Fast deployments, remote workforce focus, detailed logging

Cons: The Reporting UI could be more intuitive

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 39 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.6/5 - 262 Reviews

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4. Delinea (ThycoticCentrify) Secret Server

Overview: A scalable PAM tool known for its ease of use, supporting cloud and on-premise secrets vaults, role-based access, and compliance policies.

Delinea Pricing: Starts around $5,000/year for SMB edition

Delinea Licensing Options: Subscription or perpetual

Best For: SMBs to mid-market teams

Pros: Quick deployment, strong usability

Cons: Lacks built-in analytics for risk scoring

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 41 Reviews| Gartner Rating: 4.4/5 - 1276 Reviews

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5. HashiCorp Vault

Overview: A developer-centric PAM solution focused on secrets management and identity-based access in dynamic infrastructure.

HashiCorp Vault Pricing: Free open source + Enterprise tier

HashiCorp Licensing Options: Per node, SaaS, or cloud-hosted

Best For: Cloud-native environments, DevOps teams

Pros: API-first, secret rotation, dynamic credentials

Cons: Requires technical setup and integration work

G2 Rating: 4.6/5 - 45 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.5/5 -1276 Reviews

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6. Senhasegura PAM

Overview: A fast-growing PAM platform with extensive automation, real-time access control, and threat detection capabilities.

Senhasegura Pricing: Competitive enterprise pricing

Senhasegura Licensing Options: Per user or infrastructure module

Best For: Enterprises seeking PAM + threat intelligence

Pros: Fast time to value, AI-driven risk analytics

Cons: Relatively newer to the global market

G2 Rating: 4.7/5 - 74 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.6/5 - 1079 Reviews

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7. ManageEngine PAM360

Overview: An affordable PAM solution with password vaulting, session auditing, and integrations with AD, SIEM, and ticketing platforms.

PAM360 Pricing: Starts ~$500/year (SMB) to enterprise tiers

PAM360 Licensing Options: Subscription or perpetual

Best For: SMBs and mid-size enterprises

Pros: Low cost, strong compliance features

Cons: Less support for JIT access

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 - 1 Reviews| Gartner Rating: 4.2/5 - 81 Reviews

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8. Wallix Bastion

Overview: A European PAM vendor with robust session monitoring, just-in-time access, and strong data sovereignty controls.

Wallix Pricing: Enterprise-based quote

Wallix Licensing Options: Per user or session

Best For: Regulated industries and EU-based companies

Pros: Certified for EU regulations, easy deployment

Cons: Smaller integration marketplace

G2 Rating: 4.2/5 | Gartner Rating: 4.3/5 - 201 Reviews

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9. AWS IAM Identity Center + Secrets Manager (for AWS Zero Trust)

Overview: Native AWS tools for cloud-centric access and secret management, with tight integration into Zero Trust microsegmentation.

AWS Pricing: Pay-as-you-go

AWS Licensing Options: Cloud-metered billing

Best For: AWS-native environments

Pros: Seamless with AWS ecosystem, low entry cost

Cons: Limited cross-cloud capabilities

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 23 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.5/5 - 152 Reviews

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10. IBM Security Verify Privilege Vault

Overview: IBM’s enterprise-class PAM solution with analytics, identity governance, and session recording, designed for Zero Trust enterprises.

IBM Pricing: Custom enterprise contracts

IBM Licensing Options: Modular enterprise suite

Best For: Large enterprises seeking integrated IAM/PAM

Pros: Scalable, part of IBM Verify Suite

Cons: Requires IBM ecosystem alignment

G2 Rating: 4.3/5 - 139 Reviews | Gartner Rating: 4.4/5 - 7 Reviews

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Comparison Table: PAM Solutions for Zero Trust (2025)

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FAQ:

What is the difference between ZTNA and Pam?

While PAM and ZTNA are essential components of a robust cybersecurity strategy, they address different security aspects. PAM is focused on securing and managing privileged access to critical systems, whereas ZTNA aims to enforce strict access controls and continuous verification across the entire network.

Is PAM part of zero trust?

Zero Trust privileged access management (PAM) is a security framework incorporating fundamental Zero Trust principles to protect privileged accounts and resources.

Can ZTNA replace VPN?

Advantages Of ZTNA Solutions

ZTNA will replace VPNs for application access, which is 90% of what organizations need for remote access. However, there are times when users will need network access (not application access), where they will still need to use a VPN.

Does Pam fall under IAM?

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a subset of IAM that focuses on privileged accounts and systems. It governs and controls access to accounts with elevated privileges, such as administrator accounts, and strictly controls their use in accessing highly sensitive systems and data.

Final Thoughts

In a Zero Trust model, identity is the new perimeter, and privileged identities are the crown jewels. Choosing the right Privileged Access Management (PAM) tool can protect your most sensitive systems, prevent breaches, and enforce least privilege without slowing down teams.

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• Identifying dormant or over-provisioned privileged accounts across SaaS apps
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